Obama’s Clinton Initiative
By Joe Conason on November 19, 2008 at 7:45 PM in Bill Clinton, Current Affairs, Hillary Clinton, Secretary of State Hillary Clinton
(bumped up by NoQuarter)
Editor’s Note: Thank you to the New York Observer’s editor for permitting us to reprint Joe Conason’s information-dense, pithy summary of president-elect Barack Obama’s “initiative” in asking Sen. Hillary Clinton to be Secretary of State. Mr. Conason answers the TV blatherers’ questions about Bill Clinton’s Foundation. Consider giving a subscription as gifts for the coming holidays. The editor didn’t ask me to “hawk” subscriptions. But this magazine is a great read; it’s not ideological or stuffy (see more recommended articles below); and it’s $29/year for 49 issues. HINT TO RELATIVES: I want a subscription! NOW, Mr. Conason:
BY JOE CONASON
Why would Barack Obama invite Hillary Clinton into a serious discussion of her potential appointment as secretary of state without reaching his own conclusions about the risks and benefits of that possibility? That seems frivolous and foolish, neither of which describe the manner in which the president-elect is conducting the transition. Unless he has made his first big mistake, the likelihood is that he and his team were prepared to make the offer before they contacted her.
Certainly Mr. Obama has had plenty of time to mull over the issues surrounding that appointment, including the role of the former president who happens to be married to Senator Clinton.
On several occasions over the past two years, the Obama campaign called attention to Bill Clinton’s global foundation work, his worldwide speech-making, and the financing of those activities. Then again, he and his surrogates also cast doubt on Senator Clinton’s foreign policy credentials during the campaign.
In the post-election world, those ancient issues became inoperative, so to speak — just as the Clintons realized at some point over the past few months that they were no longer worried by Mr. Obama’s short résumé.
Senator Clinton’s qualifications and competence are not at issue any longer, if they ever were. Her disagreements on foreign policy with Mr. Obama were exaggerated by her campaign and his, as well as by the press. Meanwhile, she worked hard to elect Mr. Obama – far harder, in fact, than any previous defeated rival in a Democratic primary that I can recall. Between the unity rally in New Hampshire last June 27 and Election Day, she undertook roughly 130 separate campaign events, including speeches, fund-raisers, press interviews and conference calls all over the country. According to a Clinton aide, she brought more than $10 million into the Obama coffers — while her own debt remains unpaid.
The concerns about the Clinton Global Initiative and Bill Clinton’s other activities seem slightly overblown (as I’ve noted before). Every paid speech he has delivered over the past eight years is recorded in his wife’s Senate disclosure forms. Nor have donors to CGI been concealed, either, as any journalist who attends its meetings or examines its Web site should be able to determine. The countries that have donated funding to the Clinton H.I.V./AIDS Initiative are also a matter of public record.
When such questions arose during the campaign, he promised to publish the names of all future donors if his wife were to be elected president – and presumably he will now make any reasonable disclosures requested by the president-elect as part of the vetting process.
Yet it is still necessary to consider the potential for conflict between U.S. foreign policy and the Clinton foundation’s relationships around the world. Like any international philanthropic executive, Bill Clinton cannot operate in other countries without the cooperation of their governments, some of which are controlled by dubious figures. There may be times, as there have been in the past, when he will say something nice about a government that the U.S. officially disdains.
But those realities have never stopped Senator Clinton from upholding U.S. policy and criticizing those same governments whenever she saw fit to do so. Nor would a foreign government assume that it could influence U.S. policy — which would be made by President Obama, not the secretary of state — because it gave money to help the Clinton foundation provide medicine to AIDS victims in Africa. Should she become secretary of state, a competent liaison between her office and her husband’s foundation should be able to avert any embarrassment.
A working relationship between the new president and the former president promises significant benefit for the restoration of American influence, no matter who ultimately takes over the State Department. As the world’s most popular statesman and one of the most respected, Bill Clinton could become an important asset to Mr. Obama – in places where we like the people in power and even in some places where we don’t.
Here are some of the current articles at the New York Observer which look like great reads:
- “Times Columnist William Kristol is ‘Not Such a Fan of the Mainstream Media’; Says of Sarah Palin ‘I Barely Know Her’“
- “Clinton Associate: ‘She Is Still Weighing It’“
- “Nikki Finke Rails on NBCU’s Ben Silverman; ‘You Sir, Are No Brandon Tartikoff’“
- “http://www.observer.com/2008/o2/nikki-finke-rails-nbcus-ben-silverman“
From that last article, look at this — who knew?!?!?!?!?!
In this week’s giddily Obama-centric edition of The New Yorker—you had the illuminated O in “Yorker”; the “ELECTION SPECIAL” tab on the outside cover flap; and more than 35,000 words inside about the election—the longest story in the magazine was assigned to none other than the magazine’s editor, David Remnick. His 12,000-word opus on race and politics included dispatches from two different trips to Chicago and one to New Orleans.
It was filed in the magazine under: “A Reporter at Large.”
“As much as I love editing, reporting and writing is a way for me to get out of the house a little bit, metaphorically” said Mr. Remnick in a phone interview. “Otherwise, it’s just the apartment and the office.”
And he’s far from the only editor who’s taken to writing of late!
There was Newsweek’s Jon Meacham on the Nov. 9 Meet the Press, sitting at a pundits’ round table with Tom Brokaw. As the two men talked about what an Obama White House will look like, Mr. Brokaw managed three shout-outs to Mr. Meacham’s new book, American Lion: Andrew Jackson in the White House, which has just been published by Random House.
“I don’t want to sound grandiose, but the intellectual narrative escape is sometimes good,” said Mr. Meacham to Off the Record afterward. “It’s refreshing. I find it refreshing to make excursions into the past even if it’s for three hours on a Sunday afternoon and watching Andrew Jackson try to destroy the Bank of the United States.”
During the five years that it took Mr. Meacham to write the Jackson book, he also found time to write American Gospel: God, the Founding Fathers, and the Making of a Nation (Random House), which was released in 2006, right around the time he took over Newsweek.
And where exactly do these fellas find the time? Don’t they have day jobs?
… Read all!
(Release: November 13)
on sale for only $16.95.
has a spatula.)
8% Off at $11.95, with a rare five-star ranking by 294 customers: 
And check out these: 
("This crazy redhead is on to something. Her pink Rambler story alone is worth the price of the book," writes 
- “Richard Sale’s reportage on Washington, the CIA, the American armed forces, and foreign intrigue has created a perfect background for this account of the steady growth of President Clinton as a master of the game of nations.”--W. Patrick Lang, former head of Middle East Operations, DIA
"Anne C. Heller's stunning biography of Ayn Rand" uses a "plethora of newly unearthed research and fresh insight."
To quote Dr. Smith (I think), “Oh the pain!”
I’ll be a happy camper when this Hillary talk is over and especially happy when she is either not offered the SOS job or declines. I want her to stay as far away as possible from that parasitic organism.
I’m with you.
Have you guys read the lates on Alan Keys and Obama birth issue
http://tallahassee.injuryboard.com/miscellaneous/alan-keyes-seeks-to-block-electoral-vote-for-barack-obama.aspx?googleid=251760
me too.no hypocrisy this time.straight talk.the democratic party is not a religion we have to practice without asking questions like ” how ”and ”why”
I want her far away from the Obama Administration too. I just don’t see it as good for her. She’ll be tied to him and his success. Plus she’ll be vulnerable if things happen to go awry.
Obama looks good by offering the job to her, he eliminates his biggest competition in 2012, he ties her success to his, he gets a well known and well respected figure as SoS, etc. The only downside for Obama is that he might upset some of the crazier DailyKos types. But I think he’s more than willing to throw them under the bus because they have no serious leverage over him. He’s got an adoring press to carry his water and a cult of personality to do his bidding. He doesn’t need the DailyKos now that he’s in office. (He only needed them in the very beginning of his campaign.)
The question is: What’s in it for Hillary? If she leaves the Senate she loses whatever power base she has there. She doesn’t get to influence important domestic policy that she cares so much about like healthcare. She gives up any chance to run again in 2012. Pfft.
She would not run against BO unless he is the world’s biggest disaster with Bush-like hatred awash in the nation. So this is not a bad entry point re 2012, should it work out. There is of course always that downside risk when dealing with BO, but I think that Hillary and Bill are in a much better position than any of us to make a good assessment of that issue, and to make the right call. They have a lot more ‘real’ information on everything than spectators do.
Whatever Hillary decides for herself, I’m for.
PUMA!!!!!
True, no president who has the option of another 4 years, has anyone of his own party to run against him. They wouldn’t dare, she would’t dare.
There is no position more important under the presidency than the SOS. Not even the VP.
This is a highly important and visible position. She is the perfect person for the job.
I hope the bullshit of the Clinton-hating media are shut up by the eventual appointment of Sen Clinton to this position.
I for one will be very happy and excited for her if this comes to be.
Her in this position is separate from my feelings about Obama.
This presidency must succeed. Our economy, our country needs a rather quick fix.
Bill Clinton’s endeavors for his library and his appeal for funds to help Africa, should not and will not interfere with his wife’s work as SOS. There are many different areas that governments work under. It’s more complex than to think their stand on one global and/or political issue, affects all their standings on a particular country. It’s not that simple.
The hate for Pres Clinton endlessly spewed from MSNBC, and the sneer’s on the faces of Chris Matthews and his crew all the way down to Mika in the morning should not be soaked up by intelligent people as justified. They are partisans and unprofessional.
There is no person, no couple, in the history of this nation that has been more thoroughly vetted than the Clinton’s.
The treatment they receive by the media is a disgrace and most of all unjustified.
I agree with you 100%. When I was mourning Hillary’s loss in June I thought to myself that she should be our SoS. I want her representing me around the world. I also think the media will finally give her the respect she deserves.
This was a good read — I’m glad there are some journalists who can still engage in critical thinking.
I’m more convinced then ever that the SoS offer never happened. The rumor is being used to deflect attention from other issues.
Narcissistic personalities are vindictive. No matter what the Clintons do for O — it will never be enough.
At this point sure why not, Diaper Dan Opampers can add MORE to his Karmic debt and continue to be vindictive even after he “won.” A hollow victory indeed, since nothing will ever satisfy the cretin.
You know I’ve given a lot of thought to that lately. Not only Barky but so many in the media and the DNC have a HUGE karmic debt that sooner or later must be paid for.
NW Rain, I agree with you completely.
NW Rain ~
I agree with your assessment about the use of the SoS consideration as a distraction. I wihs I knew what we are being distracted from.
I read about BO’s vinidctive nature. He, like every other narcissist, (It’s so funny to know there is more than one narcissistic person, when narcissists think they are so special, that there is no one else like them anywhere in the universe. Ha! ) holds onto slights until he can really put the screws to someone. It happened in the Illinois state legislature – of course now I can’t find the story, but I will, and I’ll post it when I do. It took years, but he managed to hold onto the insult until he nailed the rep who slighted him.
I think it’s funny that as president, BOBO can’t live without the Clinton’s. But as president, Hillary could surely have lived without BOBO. LOL unless maybe, she opened up a secretary of community organizing position in her cabinet.
ROFLMAO…
I still think Hillary will stay away from OBarnum’s Three Ring Circus from HELL.
agree
Heidi Li pointed out the other day that Senator Hillary Clinton is a politician and she will do what is best, rather where she could do the best for the country.
So, bless her what ever her decision is, she gave it a good fight against odds stocked up against her by her own party and the biased media/press.
Maybe one day we may have chelsea Clinton on the ticket but I think Pelosi, Dean, Donna Brazile, Obama Chicago Machine and Axelrod have taken away any hope that she will run for POTUS. The killed the dreams, with dirty politics and sold the voters down the river along with democracy.
The best thing for this country is for OVomit to RAPIDLY screw up and get ousted.
For obvious reasons, Obama cannot be ousted. Anymore than he could lose the primary that he lost.
Truer words were never said!
Wildchild, that is SO true. Obama would be just what he is – a first term senator with no real accomplishments under his belt.
I’ll be glad when it’s all over with. I just can’t stand hearing about Obama on the news everyday. Today it was about Michelle checking out schools and granny living at the White House.
Just be glad you don’t live in Chicago. Over the weekend, there was a photo fo BO and MO striding across the sidewalk as they left one of Chicago’s “top” eateries.
The question ‘neath the pic was something like,”Like Michelle Obama’s boots? Read our best guess about where they came from.?”http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-ctobama_day_0620081109200003,0,7990668.photo
It is getting so that not an hour goes by that doesn’t bring another stupid question about the Obamas. I almost can’t wait for him to be crowned king so we can put a halt to this stupidity.
(almost)
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/nationworld/chi-ctobama_day_0620081109200003,0,7990668.photo
I messed up the link. (I simply cannot use this laptop with any degree of skill.)
Funny how Michelle never even visited the kids other granny. Even when they were all in Honolulu.
She’s a real class act.
In case you missed this:
I have hopefully great news for those of us who wish HRC to stay far far away from that parasitical organism BHO:
Hillary might reject State offer
I don’t think she would let the vetting of BC go as far as it is if she wasn’t seriously planning on accepting the position.
“Meanwhile, she worked hard to elect Mr. Obama – far harder, in fact, than any previous defeated rival in a Democratic primary that I can recall. Between the unity rally in New Hampshire last June 27 and Election Day, she undertook roughly 130 separate campaign events, including speeches, fund-raisers, press interviews and conference calls all over the country. According to a Clinton aide, she brought more than $10 million into the Obama coffers — while her own debt remains unpaid.”
Why did she campaign so hard for BO? She fought hard during the primaries but in the end she kissed his ass!
Maybe I’m naive but I think she did it because she cares about alot of social issues that Obama supported: Roe v. Wade and healthcare reform to name a few.
Alternatively (and more cynically), maybe she saw the writing on the wall and wanted to get in good with the next big power figure in the Dem Party. She’s no dummy.
We had to kill health care reform in order to save it. Tom Dashcle, Health and Human Services?
We had to kill health care reform in order to save it. Tom Daschle, Health and Human Services?
Hillary promised she would campaign “her heart out” for whoever the party’s nominee was and unlike Nobama Hillary Clinton does keep HER word!
Right. She didn’t have to think about it like Michelle would have (when asked in an interview if she would support Hillary if she won the primary).
That’s the 60 million dollar question.
She had a gun to her head.
Because she’s a loyal Democrat.
I guess perhaps it was the matter of her survival, who knows why she worked so hard, harder than him, to get him elected.
As much as I disagree with Hillary on a multitude of issues, and as much as I find her repugnant, I would never deny her intelligence. I find it odd that so many of her supporters are bewildered by her support of Obama when the reason is so obvious. To the Clintons, Obama is a known quantity, they know where his bodies are buried, they know his weak points. If McCain had won there is no sure guaranty that he wouldn’t be a popular president and be assured of a second term. As insiders they know that Obama will most likely be a dissaster as president and will easily be defeated in the primaries by Hillary. It’s the most sure and rapid route to the Whitehouse for the Clintons. Don’t any of you watch Survivor? The biggest threats (most athletic, most intelligent) are almost always eliminated first. Helping Obama to get elected was the wisest move by the Clintons to improve their chances for the Whitehouse.
What they may have failed to take into account is the distinct possibility (likelyhood) that Obama is pathological and will not behave within normal parameters, nor will his rabid cult, and a reasonable political calculus is inoperable. In other words, the Joker’s wild. They may well have helped to create a monster.
Oh ya, SoS for Hillary? Doubt it!
Hey, what happened to “Chicagoan’s” highly-touted inside report about McCain being SOD?
John McCain would be crazy to give up his seniority in the Senate to join the Obama Administration.
The only thing McCain is good for now is to take the leadership role in saving Social Security and Medicare. That’s about all he can do.
The only reason I would like to see her take is to watch the O-tards’ heads explode at Kos.
Other than that it’s run don’t walk away from this Obama mal-administration.
Watching those exploding heads would be fun, wouldn’t it?
Maybe Galt could sell us some of that free-range popcorn he has for the show!
I admit – I was a bit surprised that Hillary raised $10 Million for OBAMA when her debt is still unpaid?? I thought HE was supposed to be helping her with her debt since she traipsed all voer cration for him, and he had all that (illegal) cash? Oh, wait – I forgot. He’s a liar.
LOLZ!
I agree with NW Rain–I’ve been posting for the last 2 days saying this SOS is a distraction and we can look forward to more of this nonsense from BO’s people for the next four years. I also have another theory about the Clinton appointees, perhaps they are temporary decoys, meaning he gains a certain credibility and/or confidence from those who voted for him by hiring seasoned, experienced Washington insiders in the beginning. And then after the first nine months or so when they can no longer stomach this Nothing they will begin to resign and he will call in the second string, the ones he has waiting in the wings that will really change things–the hardcore leftists.
If Biden and Powell were giving us a true heads-up on the coming 6 months of upset, maybe BO does plan on replacing the whole kit and caboodle when the dust settles from the initial trauma, whatever it is. Someone said recently that they wouldn’t be surprised if Israel strikes Iran, Russia supports Iran, all hell breaks loose here and abroad. No heating oil, no gasoline, food shortages, economy worsens, riots, martial law.
I’m of the opinion that it’s all b.s. Politicians will do what’s best for them and say what’s best for them. Those who believed Obama because they had CDS, now can see the truth that Obama was willing to say anything to win, including what he said about Hillary and Bill. That the Clintons understand that, is testimony that both Clintons are above all politicians.
I don’t care what Hillary does. I think she should stay away from Obama because there’s nothing good in that administration for her (unless she wants to keep tab on Obama from the inside at her own peril). If she becomes part of the Obama administration, Like Colin Powell demonstrated his stupidity when he went along with GW and sold the Iraq War, Hillary will be stained with whatever mismanagement happens in the Obama administration.
This shows Obama’s true desperation. He is utilizing the enormous success of President Bill Clinton and Hillary Clinton because he ain’t got shit without them. He trashed them both shamelessly through the primaries with his rot gut racist bullshit. Allowed Hillary to be run roughshod with sexism by the media and his supporters and said NOTHING. Accepted 4 Michigan delegates that belonged to Hillary and not him. Geez, for someone with so little respect for these two people who have played such a positive role in this country, this little asshole sure seems to need them and many of their past administration now. As we have been saying for MONTHS. There is not one single thing about Obama that makes him qualified except white guilt and entitlement felt by many blacks-THAT’S IT.
Remember, if he didn’t get those 4 electoral votes, he would have been even with HRC in pledged delegates. (You don’t think the RBC came up with the number 4 by accident, did you?)
http://2.bp.blogspot.com/_ohjlmIeE2rI/SP5DZ8cuPJI/AAAAAAAAAIs/p7VPT6ZmYh0/s1600-h/page2.jpg
I think this is a distraction from the buzz on the internet that BO might not be a natural born citizen. Sure, most of us who have been writing about this cannot get posted on RCP; and even when Drudge posts news of cases, it gets taken down shortly; but still, people are talking. But it’s 4 weeks until the EC will be voting. Anything can happen before then.
http://jbjd.wordpress.com/2008/11/15/find-out-whether-barack-obama-is-a-natural-born-citizen-as-required-under-article-ii-of-the-us-constitution-and-stop-the-electoral-college-from-voting-for-him-if-he-is-not/
AMEN!
What I will say about Hillary….She has been in a bad situation from the beginning of this nightmare. The Primary, having to campaign for OVomit and now this. Never once does this woman lose her dignity, or air her dirty laundry in public. As opposed to OVomit who flipped both Hillary and McCain the FINGER as a show of what a little pansy baby he is. She deserves more than to be under his thumb and I pray the Clintons move on with their lives and don’t fall prey to this OVomit nonsense.
On a lighter note…
No Hard Feelings…to the democrats
The election day is over,
The talking is done.
My party lost, your party won.
So let us be friends,
Let arguments pass.
I’ll hug my elephant,
You kiss your ass.
Love the poem. Thanks for sharing.
Is it true that BHO never registered for the Selective Service? If that is true, maybe he knew he did not have to register because he was not a citizen. He seemed to have used the citizenship thing as he saw fit.
NO – if it would get him foreign scholarship status and YES- if he wants to be president and NO- if it means he has to register for the selectice service and YES- if it is to his benefit in some way. If this is true…What a player!
Sam, he is the arch user.
I think we should POLITELY lobby Harry Reid to give HRC the senate position that she requested, and he denied – to head a committee on national health reform.
Reid claims that this is Ted Kennedy’s domain, and Clinton doesn’t have seniority.
THiS is where she would serve America best.
I would not like to see her lose her Senate seat to become an Obama flack. She would lose her own voice.
A voice of sanity in the media hysteria. I appreciate your points, and the calm, intelligent tone in which you make them. I wish they could displace the media nonsense, to wit:
That HRC has raised $10Mil for him, while none for herself. Frankly, I dk why she raises money for him, and wish she were raising money for herself. But people need to know the reality.
That Bill has been cooperative all along about his funders, fees, etc. I am so tired of this false media narrative about his hiding info. The one who hides is The One.
I appreciate your showing that HRC speaks her own mind and is her own person, and that may conflict with Bill’s views in re other nations. Again, I am so tired of the media acting as if they are one entity when they are in fact two strong, independent people who have a legendary partnership.
Methinks this is all theatre to distract from the POTUS legal cases, particularly the one’s being handled at SCOTUS.
New entry on cnn page rather interesting (new) details:
Story Highlights
Some say Obama is considering Sen. Clinton for his Cabinet
Sources said Clinton believes position is hers if she wants it
Sen. Harry Reid said he is considering new Senate role for Clinton if she stays
Sen. Ted Kennedy said Tuesday that Clinton would head group on health care reform
So now some are trying to bribe her to not take the job? You have to wonder what exactly their motives are.
I do anyway.
VEEEERRRRYYY interesting info.
I wonder why they would bribe her to stay in the Senate and not take the SOS job. They know she desperately wants to reform health care, it is her passion.
Very interesting indeed!
If he was genuinely interested the smear abnout Clinton donors would never have surfaced.
He wants her to move from the Senate now while the anit Bush sentiment would get a Dem in where his friend the extramarital Governor who replaced Spitzer now resides. In two years time when the luster is off he’s probably facing a roll back of voting influence.
This isn’t about her, it’s about him getting another toady appointed and having a long career of favors owed back his way in so doing from that Senate seat in NY.
Maybe the Big Apple can have a Daley as a Senator, and a Mayor!
Thanks for the summary about his initiatives.